San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-01-07
CHAPTER v.


Another bright warm morning. The
farmers are beginning to cheer up; it is
Just possible that if this weather lasts
they may save the remnants of the corn
they cannot possibly pay the expenses
of cutting it-but even this little hope
is better than none.
A busy morning at the farm; they
have been astir and hard at work since
five. Mrs. Vaughan has taken the
ledger some new milk, warm. frothing,
delicious so good that he decides in his
own mind he will become milk drink
er and give up everything else. Then
his mind misgives him when he remem-
bers the fluid called milk in London,
which bears no likeness whatever to
this.
A tempting breakfast was laid for
him in the pretty green drawing-roOm
new laid eggs, fresh golden butter,
and bread such as Londoners only see
in dream. lie felt better this morn
ing, stronger, and he longed to be out in
the beautiful air. The farmer had gone
to market, Mrs. Vaughan to Aspen
dale. Ruth came in to see what more
he wanted. and found him looking as
bright as the morning itself.
"What are you going to do, Bonnie
DOOM" he asked.
$50 many things. | can hardly re-
member them all, 4" she replied. I'm the
first place have to gather all the rasp-
berries that are ripe for making JAM"
That will be delightful. May help
your"
"They will stain your fingers and
make your ''mdS rough; but you can
come if yOl -
"ShOw m rhands, Bonnie Doom"
he said llu.. ,;ugly. You seem to be
always busy with fruit and flowers"
She held them out to him: pretty Shap-
ed hands. hut Redeemed and cOarsened
by hard work
THEY lave seen some service" he
said, laughingly; but lac thought to
himself it was thousand pities that
such dainty graceful beauty should he
buried in a farmhouSe-that Il girl with
face so exquisite should have red,
rough hands; but he said no more.
Il have letter to write" he said;
''then will join YOU. know where
the raspberry trees grow"
AT the end of the garden near the
field" she said, and Eric laughed.
Il have visited them before, he said:
Il know the flavor of your raspberries."
He sat down to write his letter, and
he wrote it impatiently enough: for.
strange to say, a pair of blue eyes were
looking at him from the white pages,
and sweet voice was in his ears. The
words did not come clearly; the pen was
bad.-the ink was thick. Il am not in
the humor for writing to-day" he said,
springing from his chair. Lady May
must wait" And Lady May did wait,
for he had literally nothing to tell her.
He lost no time in fastening to the
raspberry trees. She was standing there,
and as he came near her he heard the
words of her favOTite song, 'HOw could
they sing, those little birds, while she
was weary, flu of care?" Strange to
| say. although he heard it so often, he
never tired of it: to him the song was
always sad. fresh, and sweet. In after
| years hewOuld rather have gone through
fire than have heard one note of it.
"One may always find you, Bonnie
Doom" he said, las one traces the birds,
| by your song
Il love singing" she answered. sim
ply, and then Eric st. John, the eminent
| barTister, the heir of Sir Arnold Wyn-
| stay, of Grange Court, the exclusive and
| proud man of fashion, began to gather
raspberries as though he were working
at so much an hour for his daily bread.
Once or twice he laughed at himself,
| but the whole scene was "a beautiful
summers idyll to him; he was gifted
| with poets soul. The long stretch of
green meadows shaded by tall spread
| ing trees.-the deep pools of water where
the cattle drank.-th OdOr of the flow
ers.-the song of birds,-the luscious
| red fruit. the exquisite face of the
| Young girl.--were all so many sources of
| intense pleasure to him.
1T is many years since | gathered
raspberry" he said; and Ruth answered
that she thought it one of the finest
| fruits, but added that the cultivation of
it was much neglected.
| People give strawberry parties she
| said, land they think so much of straw
! berries and cream; raspberrieS are quite
neglected, yet raspberries and straw
berries always seem to me like brother
and sister.
lie laughed at the pretty contrast. but
they discussed the question so earnestly
that they did not hear approaching foot
steps.
The fact was that for the first time in
| his life Eric st. John was interested,
really and truly inter St"d, in the char
acter and life OF young and beautiful
girl.
lie knew wOmenO of the world by heart,
he had long BEEN tired OF item, but this
simple, beautiful girl. with her sweet
voice and innocent heart. was revela-
ton to him. lie liked to look at her, to
watch the dainty, changing color, to
watch the light in her eyes; he liked
listening to her simple, honest thoughts,
He was standing by her side now, look
ing at her with ardent eyes, when the
interruption came.
GOOD morning, Miss Vaughan" said
voice, in which love and jealousy,
pleasure and pain We're strangely inter-
mingled. "YOu are busy this morning"
Ruth raised her head and saw Lau-
renee standing looking at her with a
darking face. Why need she blush
burning red, stammer and falter as she
answered him; was it because, all in one
moment, she remembered that last yeaI
he had helped her to gather the rasp-
berries?
Eric st. John looked at the new conner
with goOd-humOred nod; Laurence
glared at him in return; a sudden, nor.
rible fear clutched the poor bows heart
with such force it almost killed him
Surely. this tall. handsome man, who
looked so perfectly at home and at ease
could not be-the lOdger.
Ruth knew very little of the forms
and habits of good society, but her owl
refined instinct told her. as these two
would probably see each other often
they should know each others names
Mr.. st. John, she said. this is Lau
renee Rainton, the son of an old frient
of my fathers's. "
And your over" thought Eric, if on,
may judge from his face.